Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Grazing program looks to restore habitat for greater sage grouse in Grasslands National Park

A unique partnership between the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) and Parks Canada could help restore the habitat for species at risk in Grasslands National Park (GNP). Under the partnership, local ranchers will manage grazing portions on the east block of GNP and adjacent private land in southern Saskatchewan. The goal is to restore habitat for three at-risk species: the greater sage grouse, spague’s pipit, and chestnut-collared longspur. “This project is noteworthy because Parks Canada is using cattle to help manage the park,” said SSGA president Shane Jahnke in a statement.
“This project demonstrates the important benefits of cattle grazing for the environment.”
The project encompasses 40,000 acres of public and private land, most of which is considered critical habitat for the three species.
Grazing management will be targeted to achieve habitat objectives for each species.
“By combining our conservation efforts in Grasslands National Park with those of local ranchers, we can influence and expand suitable habitat on a scale that would not be possible by any one party working in isolation,” stated Adriana Bacheschi, who is the acting field unit superintendent, south Saskatchewan field unit, for Parks Canada...MORE

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

More baloney talk and unknown science. First off what are the goals of this grazing management? First they took the cattle away and now they want them back....why? The linked article was equally as bad giving protection to a frog and burrowing owls. You want burrowing owls then plant some prairie dogs, the owl will come with them. I guess frogs need stock tanks where cattle might drink?Sage grouse have been the temple for the tree huggers to get cattle off of grasslands. Funny thing is that sage grouse and millions of buffalo evolved together, but if the cloven hoof is owned by a rancher and looks like a Hereford or Angus then it is poison to the sage grouse. I guess cattle eat them and buffalo didn't.